The Philadelphia City Council’s Committee on the Environment voted unanimously yesterday to ban plastic bags at all supermarkets and pharmacies. The full council meets next Thursday and will take a final vote on the issue.

Councilmen Frank DiCicco and Jim Kenney have been behind cutting down plastic bag litter since 2007, when they first proposed a $0.25 fee per bag. Recently, that proposal has been pushed aside and replaced by a ban. Single-use bags will be replaced by reusable bags, recyclable paper bags, or compostable bags. (Philly.com)

DiCicco said, “We agreed it would be a total ban but would not take effect until July 1, 2011 [to] give people a couple years to adjust themselves and time for stores to reduce their stock.” (Metro) This ban, if passed, would make Philadelphia the second large city in the United States to ban plastic bags.